Low Turnout for Hong Kong Poll a Blow to Opposition

By

Jonathan Cheng

Updated May 16, 2010 8:18 p.m. ET

HONG KONG—Most Hong Kong voters skipped a citywide legislative by-election Sunday, dealing a blow to opposition lawmakers who had hoped to use the poll as a de facto referendum on the pace of democratic reforms.

About 17% of Hong Kong's 3.4 million voters cast ballots, far below the 30% turnout some opposition lawmakers had hoped to attract. The low turnout came after several weeks of subdued campaigning.